This interview features British Ivor-nominated composer, violinist, and sound artist Ruby Colley. Discover her beautiful album Hello Halo, with the Exaudi vocal ensemble, created alongside her non-speaking brother, Paul. Explore her use of field recordings, Bach, folk music, and art collaborations. This transcript is linked to the podcast and video versions of this episode, with complete show notes.

This is my second conversation with Grammy-winning producer Ian Brennan, whose work continues to make a meaningful impact around the world. If you missed Part 1 of our interview, be sure to check the link in the show notes.

In this episode, we explore Ian Brennan’s remarkable approach to recording music in some of the most remote and overlooked places on Earth. You’ll hear stories from his travels to Ghana, where he recorded in witch camps, as well as projects in Bhutan and within unhoused communities in Oakland, California—near where he grew up.

This ongoing series highlights more than 50 albums Ian Brennan has produced, many of which have helped local musicians gain international recognition and perform outside their home countries for the first time.

In addition to his work in music production, Ian Brennan is also an accomplished author and a respected expert in nonviolent crisis resolution. In this conversation, we also discuss his book Peace by Peace and the philosophy behind his work.

The excerpts the albums featured in this episode are linked in the show notes. This transcript is linked to the podcast and video.

Trombonist Jeff Albert joins me for a two-part conversation exploring the Guthman Musical Instrument Competition at Georgia Tech and his multifaceted career. Hear innovative instruments, stories from New Orleans, and insights into improvisation, technology, and experimental music, with all music and links in the show notes. This transcript is linked to both video and podcast versions.

This is the transcript to my interview with Sara Caswell; the podcast and video versions are linked here.

I was honoured to have this opportunity to record this conversation with the phenomenal violinist Sara Caswell, who is a GRAMMY Nominee for the Best Improvised Jazz Solo. We focused on the recent 9 Horses album, Strum with mandolinist and composer Joseph Brent, and she also spoke to me about some of her other collaborators including esperanza spalding, Chuck Owen, Nadje Noordhuis, and mentors including David Baker, Mimi Zweig and Josef Gingold. She shared how she started playing the 10 stringed Hardanger d’amore, her rich early musical life in Bloomington, and how she is grounded and inspired from her family and friends. 

This is the transcript of my interview with Jack Hui Litster. The podcast, video and show notes are linked here as well. This conversation explores different ways to make a living as a musician, achieving a flow state, some of the positive impacts of technology, and the importance of finding a work-life balance. Jack has developed a satisfying creative career after some interesting twists and turns. In this episode, you’ll learn about his experiences as a jazz drummer, his pivot into international development, and his path back to composing, producing and recording music in different styles.

Complete transcript to my episode with Pat Irwin, linked to the podcast and video. Pat Irwin is a renowned film and television composer; some of his scores include Dexter: New Blood, Rocko’s Modern Life, Pepper Ann, and Nurse Jackie. He’s also a multi-instrumentalist who was a member of the B52s for 18 years; he founded The Raybeats and 8 Eyed Spy, and more recently the band SUSS of which I’m a fan. Pat also teaches film composition at NYU, and this conversation wove it’s way into important topics for all of us: a life well-lived, grief, the importance of creativity and of having a good hang.